The Williston boys basketball team broke into new territory this past season, reaching the final eight in the Class 3A playoffs for the first time.

Never mind that the Devils lost to Orlando Jones, on the road, in the regional final that could have sent them to the four-team state tournament in Lakeland. The progress made in the basketball program under coach David Vespignani over the past two years is almost mind-boggling.

The Florida High School Athletic Association is proposing some big changes in high school athletics for the next school year, cutting back on the number of regular season games allowed for each team in all sports except varsity football, and changing districts for sports other than football, whose new districts have previously been announced.

Coming off two games this past week, the Williston Red Devils were trying to give the Chiefland Indians a win. After dropping a one run 6-5 game to Trinity Catholic on Tuesday Feb. 24, the Red Devils opened their district season on Thursday Feb. 26. Caleb Mederas spread 7 strike outs over five innings as the Red Devils stopped the Newberry Panthers 11-1 in a five inning stoppage.

An Archer woman has died as the result of an accident on State Road 121 Tuesday south of Williston.

According to the FHP report, Diane W. McGee, 50, was traveling north on 121 in a 1989 Chevrolet when a Mack truck driven by Leonard H. Burkhartsmeier, 67, of Ocala, attempted to pass her in a legal passing zone. But McGee apparently went to make a left turn and cut in front of the truck, initiating the collision.

Levy County Farmers' Market grand opening will be Saturday March 7. The market will be open early in the morning every Saturday at its location at Williston Lions Club, 401 S.E. 6th Ave., in Williston (intersection of Southeast 4th Street and Southeast 6th Avenue).

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 to Wildwood, bear left on the Florida Turnpike (toll road). Go into Orlando, get off at the East-West Expressay (SR 408), also a toll road. Go east, get off at Tampa Avenue. The exit bears to the right, but you will then make an immediate left on Carter Street. Take Carter to Rio Grande, make a right on Rio Grande and the school is immediately on the left (810 S. Rio Grande). Directions provided by Jones High School.

GAME STORY

It wasn’t the final hurdle for the Williston boys basketball team to clear, but it sure was a big one.